Mlive.comEducation advocate Mary Copeland holds brochure for her program "My Home is a V.I.P.S. Home" that works with families in a series of sessions to realize their the most person in their child's education, providing them the information and tools to empower them. She is now recruiting parents to start a chapter of Parents for Public Schools in Grand Rapids.

GRAND RAPIDS,MI -- Efforts are under way to recruit families with kids in Grand Rapids schools to create a local chapter of Parents for Public Schools to ensure all children get a quality education.

"Parents are the most important people in a child's education, regardless of whether they have a PhD or GED," said longtime education advocate Mary Copeland, who was a social worker with Grand Rapids schools for 23 years and is spearheading the project.

"Parents for Public Schools is a national organization that is dedicated to educating, engaging and empowering parents to become advocates for their child's education and other children in the community."

The national organization started in 1989 in Jackson, Miss., and has 16 chapters in 11 states.

Parents for Public Schools for Greater Kalamazoo is the first in Michigan. The organization for residents in all nine school districts based in Kalamazoo County is first countywide chapter in the country.

Copeland invited Debbie Rude, the executive director of the Kalamazoo group, to Grand Rapids to meet with her and a small group of community members about the organization.

Educators repeatedly say parent involvement is one of the key factors in the academic success of a child. Copeland said she thinks PPS and a program she's seeking to expand, "My Home is a V.I.P.S. Home," can improve parent engagement and student success.

Copeland said the V.I.P.S. program is designed to "empower parents in supporting their children’s educational success and is needed because education starts with a family that values education."

She said she is seeking parents who value education to take the lead and launch a strong Parents for Public Schools chapter to work with schools to improve the quality of education.

According to the national organization's website, "PPS created a 'new brand of parent involvement' which elevates the role of parents in public schools from passive consumers to active participants. PPS parents raise standards, solve problems and advocate for their community. In short, PPS parents demand excellent schools and have the skills to make it happen."

Copeland said she is hoping for a good turnout of parents at next Wednesday's informational meeting because a group can't form with just interested community members.

"District parents have to take the lead," she said.

She said the group can help educate parents on policies and standards and show them how to navigate the bureaucracy when they have concerns or reform ideas that can affect their child's ability to be college-ready by the time he or she graduates.

Email: mscott2@mlive.com and follow her on Facebook and Twitter @Twitter.com/GRPScotty.